|
Martinsville, Indiana is located 30 miles south of Indianapolis via State Road 67 or 37 and 20 miles north of Bloomington via State Road 37. The southern edge of the Wisconsin Glacier, which scraped smooth the northern part of the state, bordered what is now Martinsville. Absence of glacial influence on the rugged hills has caused the area to be nicknamed "The Gateway to the South." Martinsville is the county seat of Morgan County, in Washington Township. |
|
Martinsville has been touched by greatness in the person of several citizens who have achieved fame on a state or national level.
EMMETT F. BRANCH (1874 - 1932) 31st Governor of Indiana in 1924, was born in Martinsville. He succeeded Gov. Warren McCray after his resignation.
WILLIAM G. BRAY (1903 - 1979) moved to Martinsville in 1930. He served as a United States Congressman 1951 - 1975.
BOBBY HELMS (1933 - 1997) earned six gold records in his career as an artist and musician. His hits include "My Special Angel," "Fraulein," "Just a Little Lonesome," "Jacqueline," "New River Train," and "Jingle Bell Rock."
PAUL VORIES McNUTT (1891 - 1955) 34th Governor of Indiana, was elected in 1933 after residing and practicing law in Martinsville from 1917.
JOHN WOODEN (1910 - ) was a Martinsville High School basketball champion in 1926, '27 and '28. During the 1960s and '70s he became famous as the coach of University of California at Los Angles's basketball team. Under his leadership the team won National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship in 1964, '65, '67, '68, '68, '70, '71, '72, '73, and '75. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972.
